1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand
people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of presage
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
The result is chaos, bewilderment and delay that presages rising consumer prices.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
For Swain, the rise of directs presages nothing less than a revolution in the world’s financial markets.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
The result is chaos, bewilderment and delay that presages rising consumer prices.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
As for Cipriani, a hidden history of run-ins with power players seems to have presaged this Shell game.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
For all its history and tradition, the Preakness was expected to have a different feel this year.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
The nightlife and dining service staff gave off a familial feel—like a big Jersey family.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Las Damas was founded in May 1948 and put on the Beachcomber’s Carnival, a forerunner of the Sunset Beach Art Festival, in July of that year.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
-
The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The pin positions were far more accessible than the previous two days, as McIlroy had predicted.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
That’s for our golf coverage team at Aronimink — Brendan Quinn, Gabby Herzig and Brody Miller — to predict.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Again, people have premonitions.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
At the snap, Wake Forest defensive back Davaughn Patterson fulfilled Joly’s premonition, moving quickly toward the line of scrimmage in an effort to interrupt the tight end’s route out of the backfield.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The company’s example was seen by many as a portent of the AI future.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than receiving traditional care, however, Hylton was unwittingly plunged into a cold experiment in using remote work to offset hospital staffing shortages, which could be a grim portent in an age of AI automation.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those fears have eased somewhat in recent months as some Democratic candidates advance from the pack.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Your co-parent is managing treatment, uncertainty and the very real fear of how this will affect his relationship with his daughter.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
White filed a tort claim with the city in 2024; such a claim is a necessary precursor to a lawsuit against a government agency.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
15 May 2026
-
Flying through a mountain with steep drops and dark surprises, this most definitely feels like a precursor to Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds.—
Zachary Laks,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Another reasonable worry is energy.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
-
With one less worry – a safe home – Denise can now imagine a future for her family.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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